"The night HE came home!" Since the first Halloween film hit theatres in 1978, serial slasher Michael Myers has returned home many, many times over the decades. In fact, there have been 10 sequels, remakes, and reboots since Michael first arrived on the scene. There are even two more films by David Gordon Green in the works.
While the enduring influence of the first film is undeniable, everything that follows John Carpenter and Debra Hill's original vision for Michael Myers is the source of contentious debate among fans of horror. While most of the post-Halloween releases were derailed by critics, each title maintains a cult following. Here are some opinions fans have.
Halloween IV's Plot Ruined The Franchise
In Halloween II, Michael follows his sister Laurie Strode to the hospital - where she is recovering from the events of the first film - but he dies at the end. After Halloween III: Season of the Witch bombed, Michael was brought back for Halloween IV courtesy of a ridiculous twist on Halloween II's explosive finale.
Instead of dying, Michael remained comatose for years before regaining enough strength to return to his serial killing ways. This plot development caused major narrative issues in the franchise, issues many fans believe Halloween never truly recovered from.
The Jail Break At The End Of Halloween 5 Works
While Halloween IV and Halloween V were mocked upon release, the reputation of both films has gotten better with time - thanks in large part to Danielle Harris's performance as Michael's niece Jamie Lloyd. More and more fans are speaking out about how these films are actually quite effective at generating scares.
Some even stand behind Halloween V's ending, which involves Michael Myers breaking out of jail just as he is about to be transported to a maximum-security prison. Jamie's response when she sees her uncle's empty cell amplifies the horror of the moment as she realizes Michael is far from done with his reign of terror.
Both Cuts Of Halloween 6 Are Terrible
Only a small number of fans stand behind the theatrical version of Halloween 6: The Curse of Michael Myers, where Michael's drive to kill is explained away via an absurd and supernatural origin story: his association with a Druid-like supernatural cult. This addition to the franchise is so off the rails that some fans uncovered a bootleg cut that includes 45 minutes of alternate footage and a different ending.
Is The Producer's Cut better than what ended up in theatres? Some Reddit fans claim it is just as bad as the theatrical cut, but for a different reason: The Producer's Cut ends with a young Paul Rudd using magical rocks to stop Michael.
But The Halloween 6 Theatrical Cut Does Contain Amazing Atmospherics
All that being said, other Redditors stand behind the unpopular opinion that the Halloween 6 theatrical cut contains some of the best atmospherics in the entire franchise. From moody lighting to occult imagery, they believe Joe Chappelle's take on Michael Myers is super weird and even chilling.
Other fans point to The Curse of Michael Myers's soundtrack as a highlight of the film. The score is composed by Alan Howarth with songs by the rock band Brother Cane scattered throughout the movie.
The Ending Of H20 Is Especially Demented
Jamie Lee Curtis returned to the franchise with 1998's H20, set 20 years after the first film. H20 ignores all the sequels after Halloween II as Michael tracks his long-lost sister down in California.
At the end of H20, Curtis's character Laurie Strode cuts off her brother's head with an ax, but viewers find out in 2002's Halloween: Resurrection that Laurie doesn't kill Michael. Instead, she decapitates a poor, innocent EMT Michael disguised as himself so he could get away. This is equal parts frustrating and perverse in the eyes of some fans.
H20 Is Just A Scream Rip-Off, Though
Opinions about H20 vary, but some fans frame it as a second-rate take on Scream. Wes Craven's self-aware teen slasher came out two years prior to H20, and the latter film steals many plot points from its predecessor.
There's the rebellious teenagers, the sardonic '90s humor, and the high school setting. However, other fans shoot back at these H20 haters and remind them Michael Myers came on the scene as a knife-yielding, masked killer long before Ghostface.
Michael Is Too Buff In The Rob Zombie Movies
Rob Zombie gets especially violent and theatrical with his two Halloween movies, which totally reinvent the story of Michael Myers. In Zombie's cinematic world, Michael has the body of a professional wrestler and looms over everyone like a tower.
Some Halloween buffs think big, bulky Michael isn't as scary as smaller, normal Michael. They believe that a man with an average build and normal physical features who rampages like Michael is far scarier than a monstrous hulk.
The 2018 Reboot Is Too Slow
Even though David Gordon Green's Halloween did well in theatres and impressed critics, a few Redditors have plenty of shade to throw at it. This Halloween reboot ignores every film but the original - following a much older Michael as he tracks down his much older sister Laurie Strode.
Much of the film's action doesn't pick up until its final third, and some aren't impressed by the slow, narrative build-up. Instead of a bloodbath, these fans consider Green's Halloween a letdown.
Michael's Mask in the 2018 Reboot Looks Terrible
Some even go as far as hating on Michael's mask in the latest Halloween. Designed to look exactly like Michael's mask from the original film, the latest iteration shows signs of decay and wear - the kind of aging that happens over 40 years.
Why is the new mask so terrible? Because Michael looks like an old geezer in it, which is exactly what he is.
Dr. Loomis Is Really Bad At His Job
How could it be that the accredited psychiatrist tasked with aiding Michael through his recovery from murderous psychosis keeps his job? Under Dr. Loomis's watch, Michael breaks free time and time again, leaving a trail of bodies in his wake.
While Donald Pleasance's performance as Dr. Loomis is considered a highlight of the franchise, does he really make a lot of progress with his patient? He may be keenly aware of Michael's motivations and impulses, but some fans definitely think Dr. Loomis is far from a formidable opponent.